Automatic jacket and weight shifter for snap flask mold conveyers



R. AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER Nov. 13, 1951 F. POLLARD ET AL FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS 1O Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 Nov. 13, 1951 F. R. POLLARD ET AL v AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER 7 FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 $5 lime A2011;

' CkGI'IGS'MEZIIlje/ii Nov. 13, 1951 F. R. POLLARD ETAL 2,575,123

AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ammo w Mbwneg Nov. 13, 1951 F. R. POLLARD ETAL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS 1o Sheets- Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 POLLARD ET AL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYER Nov. 13, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 swam M6 fi m/I jffallard "4 g JZmIes/II.

Nov. 13, 1951 F. R. POLLARD ETAL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER Filed OCL. 29, 1948 FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 13, 1951 F. R. POLLARD ET AL 2,575,123

AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 MACH/NE "'ml m. I

, llllllllllll- "HUME!!! I -4.,V V m 1 Nov. 13, 1 F. R. POLLARD ET AL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER- FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS 1o sheets-sheet s Filed Oct. 29, 1948 F. R. POLLARD ET AL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIFTER Nov. 13, 1951 FOR SNAP FL'ASK MOLD CONVEYER l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 F. R. POLLARD ET AL AUTOMATIC JACKET AND WEIGHT SHIF'TER FOR SNAP FLASK MOLD CONVEYERS Nov. 13, 1951 Filed OCT,- 29, 1948 fatenteci Nov. 13, 1951:

UNITED PATENT o 1 This .mventionirelates to' automaticjacketand weight Shifters 'for sna 'flaSk mold -cffr ll'ieylb'iS; and. deals; morefspecificallyfwith ai mhdification of the jacket and .the'. weight 'shift'rr-niech"anism disclosed and claimed inl the-application of? Bean'- ford E-. Gavin, Sr; Serial No. 24,978," filed 4, i 1948.

When-snap flasks are veniployedlfor farming: sand molds in Which-metal castings ax a -produced}, the. flasks. are separated from the'molds assoon 10 as 'thelatter-are formedaand-j ackets and weights; of proper sizesare appliedrto -the moldsjust=-- prior totpouring. Afterthe castingsfhavehard- V ened sufficiently to=relieve themolds oi theFinternal pressure of rthev moltenlmeta l the jackets-' and-'weights -are removed;

The: jacket and weight shifter mechanism of; the above identified application cooperates. with a special formof-snap-flask mold conveyor, having a path that extends' past -molding', pouringand; shakeoutstationsi- By- J being properly located relative 'to. the portion oftheiconveyorpath along- 5 which the unpouredimoldsarewtransported to the? pouring station-and-relative to the portion: of said path along-1 which the poured molds I are transported while the castings are pooling; the a jacket and weight: shifter mechanismrcanl-functionitotransfer the jacketsand-weights from-the poured molds tothe unpouredmolds as the molds-- register with' difierent portions-of: the'mecha msm.

The: jackets: and weightsrare-transferred with thershif-ter mechanism of the?above identified'-ap-- plicationrby means: ofa plurality "of grapple :units' whichitravelainzunison-*through-a closed circular path: and. 'w'hicli are operated=in --pr'op er. timed-irelation a: with reference to their travel a and to t-he: traveY-of :the molds -carried by thertrays -of a -snap2fiaski mold conveyor. Each grapple :unit operates during each complete cycle of the shift-- 40 er mech'anism" tot-grip ajacket and: its weight thatt are" positioned on' atraveling 4 pouredmolda to elevate the jacket and t weight to remove them froniL'themold; to? transport the elevated jacketand :Weight to a different location; to-lower: the;

jacket-and weight onto amun'poured mold at said latter-"location; to release the lowered jacket and.- weight; and finally to return to-the-starting-- location wherezthejacketand weight gripping operation-takesplace.

The -above referred .-to actuation of each igrapple; unit -to.- effectthe gripping; elevating; lower ing; and-releasing= operation, is accomplished by. mean'sio d ble ac i i m t i n-a cylinder'unit which is controlled by asuitablefi 2 v valve mechanism that travels we sanfep'atli as its grapple unit. Aotuation'oif'ftlfe' valvemecha' nism' in properly'timed relation toiits travel" through said path bringsabout the properly timed operationof its. grapple unit;

It is the primary object; of this inventiofi'to provide an automatio'jacketand"weightfshifteri mechanism for snap flask moldjconveyors'whi'ch performs the same jacketandiweight.handling' operations with a plurality'fof'grapple units; as the. shifter mechanism of" the above identified application; but the actuation" of "each"'grapp1 unit to efi'ect the jacketand Weightgiippingfl elevating, lowering, and releasing operations is accomplished witha novel form ormecnamear means that causes'the grapple arfris of"'eacli".nnit. to be. operated with a mofefco'ns'i's'teiit -and.l'posi' tiveaction'than is possible with the pneumatic: type of actuatingmech'anis'ini. in tliaafdiisaidfl' application; 1 I

Another. important omen: of Ltheiinventionvis' the provision" of. automatic jacket andwweig ht shifter mechanisms in whichv the: mechanicali}. means-employed for (actuating the plurality-otgrapple unitsare easily-v adjustedniniti'allyrtd cause all of th'e-units to-operate uniformly and-in -properly timed-irelation andto enalolesaidinitial-ed justmen-ts 1307-138 maintained-with a rminimumr of attention or service," v

A. still (further objectmfi the-.-invention-is thetaprovision of automatic -jacket and weightcshiften mechanism employing a;- plurality of-jacket-andweight handling grapple-units=mounted--in spaced relation around a rotatable turntabler-frame:and-: with-each grapple unitbeing -aotuated,-as'a re sult of---rotationof said-turntable frameyto grip? 4 raise, lowerand release successivemold =3'ackets'hand weights presented thereto:bymeans'pFrecipe roeatingmotionproducingmechanismthatfis a6- tuated by.=suitablestationary cammeans;concern tricallyarrangedwith relation totlie patl f 'of travel of the grappleun v y Other ob'jctsand advantagshf T'th inv'eiit will b'eapparent during are course *of the f6116w ing description: I 7 I In the accompanyingdrawifigs forniifig apart ofthis specification and in which like 'numera v are employed to designate like partS tliroughbut the same,i m

Figure If is" top" plarfview of the automatic jacket and weighfshifte'r mechanisrrrernbbdying this T. invention illustrated as eing operati'vejly j associated' with ,opiiosedp'ortiofis' of "tWo"r1ih' 0 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, I r

Figure 5 is a detail side elevational view of one of the grapple units that forms a part of the automatic jacket and weight shifted mechanism,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6,

Figure 8 s a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6,

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6,

Figure 10 is a detail side elevational view of the cam actuated rack and gear mechanism that is employed for actuating each grapple unit of the jacket and weight shifter mechanism,

Figure 11 is a detail top plan view of the grapple unit actuating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10,

Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary side elevational views of the grapple unit actuating mechanism shown in Figs. lfland 11 and illustrate different positions assumed by the several parts of the unit during one complete cycle of operation of this actuating mechanism,

Figure 14 is a d agrammatic view of the automatic jacket and weight shifter and its associated snap flask mold conveyor. and illustrates the relationship that exists between the number of jacket and weight handling grapple units provided on the shifter mechanism and the number of mold carrying cars incorporated in the snap flask mold conveyor. and

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the opening and closing operations of the several grapple units that form a part of the automatic 1 jacket and weight shifter mechanism.

In the drawings. wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, and first particularly referring to Figs. 1 and 14, it will be seen that the jacket and weight shifter mechanism, designated in its entiretv by the reference character A, embodying this invent on is operatively associated with a snap flask mold conveyor, designated in its entirety by the reference character B, which is made up of a series of wheeled trays interconnected by a suitable drive chain. The snap flask mold conveyor is laid out in an endless path that is diagrammat cally illustrated in Fi 14 as serving a pouring station 0. amolding station D and a shakeout station E. The remainder of the path of the conveyor, from theend of the pouring station 0 to the shakeout station E. provides the cooling period for the poured castings.

By considering Figs. 1 and 14, it will be seen that the jacket and weight shifter mechanism A cooperates with the run of the conveyor that serves the pouring station C and the molding station D by being positioned between these two stations. The jacket, and weight shifter mechanism also serves the opposite run of the conveyor path by being positioned at a suitable point or location relative to the length of the cooling zone for the poured castings.

By referring to Figs. 1, 2 and it will be seen that the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism includes a stationary frame formed by the end uprights l6 that are suitably anchored at their lower ends to the foundry floor by the angles l1 and are suitably interconnected at their upper ends by the cross-beams l8. Corner braces l9 are suitably connected at their opposite ends to the uprights l6 and the cross-beams l8. By inspecting Fig. 1, it will be noted that two uprights I6 are provided at each end of the stationary frame and are arranged in spaced parallelism. Consequently, two cross-beams I B are provided for connecting the upper ends of the two pairs of uprights l6. Cross-bracing plates 20 and angle members 21 are employed for interconnecting the two parallel parts of the stationary frame at the two upper corners.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 disclose the two cross-beams [8 as having suitably attached to their middle portions the upper trunnion housing 22. Vertically and axially alined with this upper trunnion housing is a lower trunnion housing 23 suitably attached to an elevated base 24 properly anchored to the foundry floor. The function of these axially alined trunnion housings 22 and 23 is to rotatably support the turntable frame of the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism.

Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the lower trunnion housing 23 as having journaled therein the pintle 25. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 best illustrate the base portion of the turntable frame as consisting of the lower and upper disc plates 26 and 21, respectively, which are spaced vertically to accommodate the inner end portions of the ten pairs of channel irons 28. The specific manner in which these pairs of channel irons radiate from the axis of the turntable frame is best illustrated in Fig. 4. The parallel plates 26 and 21, with the ten pairs of channel irons 28 interposed therebetween are fastened to the flange of the lower pintle 25 by the plurality of bolts and nuts 29.

The pairs of channel irons 28 have the ring 30 suitably attached to the lower faces of their outer end portions. The outside diameter of this ring is such that it projects radially outwardly beyond the outer extremities of the pairs of channel irons 28 to form an annular shelf that is employed for supporting the five sectors 3| of a toothed sprocket. Bolts, or the like, 32 are employed for securing the sectors 3l' to the supporting ring 30. Each one of the sprocket sectors 3| is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, as being provided with an arcuate rib 33 on its top surface. The ribs of all of the sprocket sectors collectively form an annular raised surface, the function of which will be described more in detail at a later point.

Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, illustrate each pair of channel irons 28 as having positioned therebetween and suitably secured thereto the lower end portion of a vertical I-beam 34 that engages the periphery of the upper disc plate 21. Filler plates 35 are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 as being suitably connected to the peripheral portion of the disc plate 21 and to the lower portions of the vertical I-beams 34.

A top disc plate 36 is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as being suitably connected at its peripheral edge to the upper end portions of the vertical I-beams 34. Suitably attached to and depending from the peripheral portion of this top disc plate 36 are filler plates 3'! which bridge the spaces between and brace the upper end portions of the vertical I-beams 34.

It will be seen by considering Figs. 1 and 3 that a pair of parallel channel irons 38 are supported on the top disc plate 36 and extend entirely across the turntable frame to project at their outer end portions beyond the periphery of the sprocket that is formed on the base portion atttfib? szr syfe a han sms amtfifi fi 'pi t s id,.posaofispfsei b 946 ews? sa he radial r i hefi hd fi i i I riphgry of the-sprocket formed by the several sectqrsjl n anges l I suitably fa's tened to the top faces? of all p thepairsof cha'fi i nel irons, 8,- 59 and fl'El-forthe' purpose" oftying" theseelements"together: I I

Rigsl, 2 and BZdi toe" 'latel? asbeing supported by f oui-'upwardly conve' ing channel irons-4?, 'Ij'hese' chan elifoh's areconnected at their lower ends to' the pairs of" channlflirons 3B andf39 brerms'spiae frtf s'iipp'd'rtingf'the'up pen pihtle s4- that isattached'to" the tap" plate and is journaled' in the top trunnion housing 21;, 'Ilo further b'r 'eth' apex of thist'o'p'pintle sn' pportingsp'ioler',- ppar llel; vertically extendin g'; channel iron'sjfi" reprovmea; The upper enqgg'rt ese lastin'en ones channel'irons are suitably attachedtdth'e top plate 42 while the lowe ends are position between and suitably at'tetftltltl 11 0thepairs 'fie1'iil3ris'38'. v

Fromthe'abovjdesicr ti ,"itWillbe'Senth'zalt a cornpleteturntabl' a" efhasbeen" described; Thisframe is'suppb'r' d" cal vaxis by the upper andlow'ef trunnion and' mu assembnes: y l n Y s 'Iifhe pairs of channel menses, 39 and 45 are described above as forming tenpa irs of radially projecting arm's eaf pair'pf arms being provided with a ve r tical" I bieam 3'41 Cooperating with the ten I-bearns 3 and the" tenpairs of radial-i arms, to ro-rm ten mounting iframes for grfibpm' units, aret ste n pairis ofhorizlbntally, radially arranged angle ir- "is lfifandthe ten pairs ofg p erpendicular channel irons These ele-f ments flfi' and t'l' ar'ejbe'st illustratedin'Eigs: 2; 3 and j'5 to 9} inclusive jrnbre's'pecific, each pfii if of angle'irons' l h th ir' inner ends's uit ably fastened" to the'fopp site"side" fia'ngesfj vertical l-bea rnr 344i and" t ir'fouter l'ldlDQYtiOglS attached to the; loweif jend's of a pair of vertical channel irons 4;1. The uppe'i end "of theselast mentioned channel'irpnsare suit 'bly fastene'dto the overlying paii-" ofra'd ia'l arn'i sformed by one 01 the horizontally arranges pairsiof channel" rotation about a verti-= thaes a ttgn; mag 10 sea-,1 disease:

flange plate 5 as projecting-laterally ridniofie is positioned peripherally of theturntable frame in the; diredtiorroi rotation of said frame, or in a counter-clockwisedirection to forma supp rt? for the parallel mounting-plates 5 l and 52. The main bodies of; these mounting-plates areyi't'if cally arranged and; are elongated substantially circumferentia ly' of the turntable frame The mounting plates 5| and 52 are provided with bottorn"-ilanges 53' and 54, respectively; Whichar bolted; pr otherwise suitably fastened, tdthe plates lland Eachpair ofrnonnting plates Stand-52 best illustrated i n'Fig s. 1, 2, 3 and 11 as being provided with the ali ned hubs 55 that air e positioned on, and are suitably attached to, the; outer faces of the plates. These hubs 55 are bored in aline: ment withsuitable'openings formed in the mainbodies of the plates 5l; and 52;

Thebores of the hubs 55, and-the ali nedopen ings-formed in the mounting plates El and 52,: function to support a pivot shaft 56; Eachone; of these shafts 55 has suitably fastened thereto the hub portion-ofa gear segmentBl that is positioned between its associatedmounting plates- :pf;the-two arms of this camfollower has-fastened thereto a pin 5901a which is mounted a roller Ell}- Each one of the gear segments 57 meshes with; a verticallyarrangedra ck El that is positioned; between-the verticalmain bodies of the associated pair of mounting plates 5I-and 52' and extends througha' suitable opening formed in the plate" 49: Eachone'ofthe'vertical racks Skis backed up, and is maintained in; meshing engagement with its-gear segment 51, by means of a roller 62' journaled on a pin 65 vpassingthroughthe mounting plates 5| and 52 n v r Figs. 2; 3, 6 and l3- best illustrate the fact'th at thealower extremity of each'one of the vertical racks 6-lis 'threadedly connected to a yoke 64.

Fi s? Band 6 best illustrate this yoke as having dependingfrom its" opposite longitudinal sides the two parallel guide bars 65 which are illustrated as being connected at their lower extremities by the bolt fifi and the spacer sleeve T 61; Fig: 5'best illustrates-the" two guide bars 65 fopposite end portions of each yoke 64 are proirohs'38, 39 andjl ll. Transverse braces tfidnter v connect the outer; 1 1 r mers the grapple mounting frames lt'hat" are former by? the points of interconnetti f of the pairs of hori zontallangle irons 46- and thepairs of vertical channel irons 411 v t Figs. 1 to 3, in i usiv}-5, 6, ahd'10to 13; iiiclfisi've'ydis clos: thebute end portio-nsof each pair of radial arms?formed by'thepairs of cnan nel irons 38, 3 9 and 48, as havingmountedthere on" a 'plate 49. It will' be seeribyparticularly inspecting Figs; 1 ans 1r that" these" p' l'ates' 49 reto'n' the top fill'lfis'"(if th Daiis ofchannel irons 38, 39 and 40 and bridge the spaces formed vided with smooth'bored' holes 69 for loosely receiving' thethreaded portions lfl'bf two parallel guide rods 'll that extend perpendicularly in parallelism for passing through the smooth bored ho1'es'12 and 13;: formed respectively in the as} pairs of lockmits; 1:5 which function to l'irntl the downward movement of theghi'd'e 'rods'rela'-"" tive to the top plate 49 and the base flanges of the mounting plates 5! and 52. Suitable cushioning washers 16 are interposed between the opposite end portions of each yoke 64 and the associated guide rod carried lock-nuts I4 and between the base flanges of the mounting plates 51 and 52 and the pairs of guide rod carried locknuts to absorb impacted shocks.

The lower ends of the guide rods H are threadedly connected to the top plate 11' of a fabricated, box-like slide or a cross-head that additionally includes the parallel side plates 18 and the parallel end plates '19 and 80. By inspecting Figs. 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that the side plates 18 are provided with vertical grooves 81 to receive the parallel channel irons 41 which form a part of the previously described grapple unit mounting frame. In other words, these parallel channel irons 41 act as guides for the vertical movement of the box-like slide or cross-head. The side walls 18, additionally, are provided with vertical grooves 82 to receive the guide bars 65 that were described as being attached at their upper ends to the yoke 64. It will be apparent, therefore, that the box-like slide orcross-head is permitted to move lengthwise of the parallel guide bars 65 I and is limited in its relative movement in one direction by the spacer sleeve 67 and in the other direction by the yoke 64.

Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 12 and 13 best illustrate the offset lugs 68 as having pivotally connected to their lower ends the pairs of links 83 which in turn are connected at their outer or lower ends to the lever arms 84 pivotally mounted on the box-like slide or cross-head by the transverse pin 85. Figs. 2, 3, and 5 to 8, inclusive, disclose the outer ends of the lever arms 84 as having rigidly fastened thereto the two grapple arms 86.

By inspecting Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, it will be seen that the end walls 19 and 80 of the boxlike slide or cross-head have horizontally, freely movable therethrough the two supporting rods 81 which have fastened to their inner end portions the single grapple arm 88. A plate 89 is fastened to the outer ends of the two parallel supporting rods 8] and an adjusting screw 90 is shouldered at its outer end portion to bear against the plate 39 that connects the supporting rods 81 while an operating knob 9| is fastened to the reduced end of the screw 90 for clamping the plate 89 against the shoulder of said screw. The threaded portion of the screw 90 is threadedly connected to the outer end wall 1'9 of the box-like slide or cross-head.

It will be apparent, therefore, that by rotating the operating knob 9!, the supporting rods 81 may be moved longitudinally relative to the boxlike slide or cross-head for adjusting the setting orposition of the inner grapple arm 88. This grapple arm can be adjusted between the limits illustrated by the solid line and the broken line positions of Fig. 6. This adjustment isdesirable to accommodate mold jackets and weights of difdled by adjusting two or more of the grapple units to handle the same size jacket and weight. It will be understood that the inner grapple arm 88 of each unit is set or adjusted to a proper position to handle a given size jacket and its weight Y and is left in that adjusted position until its grapple unit is required to handle a different sized jacket and weight. It will be considered,

thereiore, that the grapple unit of Fig. 6 is set in its solid line position for handling the smallest size mold jacket and weight.

This same figure illustrates a solid line position for the two grapple arms 86, a broken line position for these arms in which they are swung outwardly and a second broken line position in which they are raised above and are in vertical alinement with the solid line position. It will be noted that the single grapple arm 88, also, is illustrated in a broken line position which is elevated to the same operative height and in par-- allelism with the last mentioned broken line position of the two grapple arms 86.

The grapple arms 86 and 88 occupy their solid line positions when the guide rods H are supported on the cushioning washers 16 that are associated with the lock-nuts 15 at the upper ends of the guide rods, or with the cushioning washers l6 engaging the top faces of the base flanges of the mounting plates 5| and 52. When the grapple arms 8'5 and 88 are in their solid line position, the rack 61, also, is positioned with its yoke 64 engaging the cushion members 16 associatedwith the guide rod carried lock-nuts 14. It will be understood that the position of the rack 6| illustrated in Fig. 6 may be considered as an intermediate one with reference to the complete cycle of operation of this rack. If the rack is moved downwardly from the position of Fig. 6, its

remains stationary during this further downward movement of the rack 6| and its yoke 64. Downward movement of the yoke can continue until it engages and is stopped by the cushion member 92 mounted on the top plate 11 of the box-like slide or cross-head. This downward movement of the yoke 64 causes the grapple arms 86 to swing outwardly into their angularly arranged, broken line position as a result of the connections that are established between the yoke 64 and the inner ends of the lever arms 84' by the offset lugs 68 and the pairs of links 83.

When a set of grapple arms 86 and 88 is to be actuated to seize and lift a mold jacket and its weight, the associated gear segment 51 must be actuated in the proper direction by its doublearmed cam follower 58 to cause the rack 6| meshing with the actuated gear segment to be raised. This movement of the rack 61 first causes the grapple arms 86 to swing into their solid line position of Fig. 6. The movement of the grapple v arms 86 is accompanied by upward movement of the associated yoke 64 relative to the stationary guide rods ll until the yoke engages the cushion members 76 that are backed up by the pairs of lock-nuts 14.

Further elevating movement of the rack 6| causes the yoke 64 to raise the guide rods 7! and. the box-like slide or cross-head attached to the circumferentially spaced h'elation.

ilower-ends of these rods. This 1iiting-of-the boxlike slide or cross-head causes the grapple arms .86.and 288 tormovelupwardlyfrom their solid line ,positions to their upper, "broken :line positions which-causes the;grapple arms ito lift the mold ,tjacketand its weight ofi of the mold.

When .the lifted jacketsand weight are to placed onto another -mold, the associated gear segment 51 is rotated intheopposite direction -by sits connected, double-armed "cam follower :58. 7 ll'his rotation of -the:geari segment 51 brings about niownward movement of its'meshing rack :=i,-=the {yoke- 64 supporting the-guide rods-11' through-the v deck-nuts M, and the 'slide'zor :cross head that is supported by theguiderods. :Downw'ardmove- :ment of the guide rods H and theirsnpported slide or cross-head can oontinuehntil ithelo'c'k- :muts 15, andtheir cushioning members 'liengage ethe gbase :fianges of the ,two mounting plates 5! and 52. This engagement. stops :the .iownward uzmovement of theguide rods 11" and their slidesor cross-head. Further dow'nwardzmovementofthe track :6 l causes-the yoke 64 :to move .-Ldownwardly cover "the threaded portions-1010f rthe a guide rods 5H :"and brings abouttoutward: swinging movement 26f .athez 'grapplei'arms 86.into1thesangular, broken .sl-ine position of Fig. '6.

It will b'erseen thatethefl'ockenuts15acan be ezdjusted relative to time .upper ends :of .the .guide ---rrods 1| toiraise orslower theilower ends of the grappleiarms '86 :and :88 whenithey are intheir -;solid line positions. Zrhe lower fends-iofithe :graptple arms should be :so :positioned that they will zproperly handleimold :j'acke'ts iand th'eirnweights when the jackets are placed.directlyionthe'eontlveyoi' trays; that;is,"iwithout :either molds or Jsnap .fiaskibottom ihoards :being :present on the ;trays. .-It,*;also, will :be s'eenzthat "the lock-nuts 174 can :be adjusted along rtl'l'e thre'adedjportions .51!) ref sthe guide rods TH cto vary the extent .to' which the grapple 121-1118 186 Willmbe "swung "outwardly.

it has beenflnotetl :above th-atthere areten .igrapple units :carried thy. the :turntable lframe in It 'is to he :understood that the invention-, is not limited to The only restriction 'that should be The improved form 'of actuating and icontrolling :m'echanisrn for efi'ecting the above type of operation of all of thesgrapple unitsno'w will be:

described.

Figs. 1, Z andB disclose a-rectangularcamsup- Lporti'ng fra'rne ="93 resting on land suitably ratdsaeh'ed to the top cross beams l -3 :of the stat-ionary'f-rame. "This ca'nrsupporting tra'me 93 is best illustrated i'n-Fig'. 1 asextending transwersely of or normal to the length of the stationar'y main frame. Additional*transversechannel "bars 94 "are supported on-the tops of the e'r'oss heamsl -azoutwardly of the opposite sidesof th'e rectangularfraine lfi. "These transverse bars ;.&4 cooperate with :the rectangular frame i553 for Lrsupporting two substantially semicircular reams 95 and 95 by means of vertical hangers 91.

Thesdirectionsarrows-tas appearing oniiigs i l rand r indicate that thetumtable irame rotates win --a counter-clockwise direction. Cam 95 is illustratedin Fig-s. 2, 10, -1 2 and --1l3cas being-lorated ona lower level-lthan cam Stand in Figs. 1 and -l5ras extending from; substantially the midcenter point of the side of the turntable-"frame, where the latter cooperates with the cooling 1 run wof the. snap flask .mold conveyor B, to substantially-thediametrically opposite mid-centeripoint,

where the -turntable (frame cooperates with the ;portion of the snap alaskmold conveyor that! is located between the pouringstation C and the :molding-station-D. Eigsrl, 10, 1 1, -12-and 1 5.disclose the estartingeend .portion of i this lower cam siwasbein-g. provided =-wi -tha section .950. thatieof greater Width than-th e main portion of-the .cam.

Y section -95a .is:provided withan inclined top edge efibanda vertical ehdedgefiih. iThi-s end -=of;.;section 95d of the .lower cam 95 cooperates with OHQ'aIm'Of' each double-armedcam follower 58 .f'or-1effe c'ting actuation of:the associated g -ear segment -51 to rraise or elevate therack llil :that -meshes with .the gear segment. This .end secftion- 95a, therefore, will bereferredto as the lifting end sectioniof the lower cam. 95.

1 he diametrically oppositeend portion .of .the

' lower-cam 415 is illustrated in Figs. 1,13 and "15 :ashaving anend .sectionfslid which is of greater thickness than the main body portion of the lower cam 95. This endsection iifid-isprovided with an inclined top edge 95f which cooperates with the .same arm .of the double-armed cam {follower 58 ior controlling rotation of .the associated gear-segment} in the proper direction to eifect lowering of the rack fil that .m'esh'es .therewith. This endtsectio'n d, therefore, will he referred to as .the lowering end section.

Figs. 1 and .15 disclose the .upper cam {9.6 .as extending froman overlapping-position iw'i-th rerere-nce to the end section 95d .of the lower jcam to 'a diametrically opposite (location where" it terminates short "of the lifting end section 795a of the lower cam. Figs. 2, 3 and 15 illustratethe starting end portion of the upper cam 19,6 fas having. :a section 36a .whichis of .greater thi'ck- -ness than the remainderof the length of this upper cam '96. This end sectiona'ea of'the "upper oam has its lower. ed-gecut away to form the -arcuate or curved por'tion L'Qfiband the inclined portion 96-0. This-cutaway or notch formation of the end section 96a .of the upper cam '96 functions to control thefinallowering movement .of each rack 6| through :the medium of the Ire-- lmaining ar-m of-each. double-farmedcam ron'ower .58. This end-section'efipi through the-mediiirh'of the cutaway or-notched formation of this lower edge, also-functions .to .reverseeachdouble-armed cam follower 58. .This end section :9Ba,-the.re-

:fore, willbereferredztoas the final lowering and reversing end-section of the upper cam .96.

The upper edge .95gsof the :lower cam F and the: lower edge 86d of V the-upper camel; lfunctijon,

respectively,-tohold the racks-Bl of the difierent grapple units in their. raised and lowered positions as a result- 0f the engagement of the cam i-ollower arms therewith. It will be appreciated,

- aof"oourse, that:the arms of the cam followers v:58

' .are provided'withthe rollers 60 to materially reduce wearing of the contacting parts. Theendasections 95a, BSdand :Bfiaareincreased sin 1 thickness to I take careof .the radial" displacevment. or .hodilylr-novement, of the. rollers it'll that =occurs each time-asdouble-armed cain iolloilver tisgpivotedabout the axis of its shaft '56. "This radial displacement resultsIrom the changeiin face 950.

' radius, or radial distance, between the center of rotation of the turntable frame and the rollers 1 60 that takes place when the movement of a roller changes from simple rotation about its axis to bodily pivotal movement about the axis of its cam follower shaft 56.

The actuation of the rack SI of each grapple unit, as a result of engagement of the rollers 60 of the cam follower arms with the active edges ,of the lower and upper cams 95 and 96, to bring about movement of the grapple arms 86 of the unit into the three positions illustrated in Fig. 6,

' and to bring about the movement of the grapple arm 88 into its two vertically alined positions,

will be explained specifically by referring to Figs. to 13 in combination with Fig. 6.

The angularly arranged broken line position of the grapple arms 85 in Fig. 6 corresponds with the lowest position assumed by the associated rack 61. The rack is illustrated in this lowest position in Figs. 10 and '11 and in the solid line showing of Fig. 12. It will be remembered that the grapple arm 88 occupies its solid line position of Fig. 6 when the grapple arms 86 are in their angular, broken line position. The grapple arms 86 and 88 assume these last mentioned positions after they have deposited a mold jacket and its weight onto an unpoured mold and the grapple arms remain in this position until the turntable frame rotates approximately 180, or until the grapple unit. in question approaches the position, relative to the snap flask mold conveyor, where a jacket and its weight are to be removed from a poured mold. By inspecting Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is possible to determine the portion of the rotation of the turntable frame during which the grapple arms 86 are in their broken line angular position. The rack BI is retained in its lowest position, or at the bottom limit of its travel, by the roller 69 carried by the trailing arm of the double-armed follower '58 engaging the holding edge 96d of the upper cam 96. It is necessary to provide a holding earn surface to retain the racks 6| at their lower limits to counteract the weight of the grapple arms 86 while the latter are occupying their angular, broken line positions of Fig. 6. Figs. 10 and 11, and the solid line position of I Fig. 12 illustrate the double-armed cam follower 58 of one grapple unit just after the roller 66 of its trailing arm has left the holding bottom edge 96d of the upper cam 96. These same figures, also, illustrate the roller so on the leading the direction indicated in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive,

the roller 60 carried by the leading arm of the illustrated double-armed follower 58 is caused to travel downwardly over the vertical cam sur- This downward movement of the roller 68 is illustrated in the first two broken line positions of Fig. 12 whichare located to the right tion which effects upward travel of the meshing rack 6|.

As a result of this partial upward travel of the rack 6| the associated grapple arms 86 are caused to move from their angular, broken line position into their solid line position of Fig. 6. The

grapple arms 86 now are positioned in parallelism with the grapple arm 88 and all of the grapple -12 arms are ready to be raised tolift a mold jacket and its weight from a poured mold. v

Continued rotation of the turntable frame in its counterclockwise direction of movement causes the roller 60 of the leading arm of the double-armed follower 58 to travel back up the end edge 95c and then to travel longitudinally of the inclined lifting edge 95b of the end section 95:; of the lower cam 95. This movement of the leading cam follower roller 60 upwardly along the edges 95c and 95b causes the associated gear segment '5'! to be further rotated in a clockwise direction with the result that the meshing rack 6| is further elevated. The remaining two broken line positions illustratedin Fig. 12 depict this further raising movement of the associated rack. When the cam follower roller 60 finally reaches the holding top edge surface 95g of the lower cam 95, the associated arm of the cam follower becomes the trailing arm. The holding edge 95g cooperates with the engaging cam follower roller to retain the rack in its uppermost position.

During this upward movement of the'rack 6|, the connected box-like slide/or cross-head has been raised and the grapple arms 86 and 88 have gripped or seized a mold jacket and its weight and have elevated the same from the poured mold. Elevated jackets and weights are illustrated at the right-hand portion of the showing of Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the continued engagement of the cam follower roller 60 with the holding top edge surface 95g of the lower cam 95 functions to support the mold jacket and its weight during rotation of the turntable frame almost 180".

The solid line position at the left of Fig. 13 shows the trailing cam follower roller 60 as it approaches the end of the holding top edge surface 95g of the lower cam. In other words, this trailing cam follower roller 60 is just about "to engage the inclined top edge 95; of the lowering end section 9511 of the lower cam 95.

As the turntable frame continues'to move in a counterclockwise direction, the trailing cam follower roller 60 will start to move down the inclined top edge 95] of the lowering end section 95d. This downward movement of the trailing cam follower roller 60 is accompanied by upward movement of the leading cam follower roller 60. This leading roller will eventually engage the lower starting end of the inclined edge surface 960 formed in the final lowering and reversing end section 96a of the upper cam 96.

The first broken line position, shown in Fig. 13 to the right of the solid line position, illustrates the roller 60 of the trailing cam follower arm at the extreme lower end of the inclined surface 95] of'the lower cam 95 and the roller 60 of the leading arm of the cam follower approximately half-way up the length of the inclined cutaway edge 96c.

This angular movement of the double-armed cam follower 58 is accompanied by rotation of the associated gearsegment 51 in a counterclockwise direction for effecting lowering of the meshing rack 6|. These positions of the described elements correspond with the positions illustrated in Fig. 12, or when the leading cam follower roller 60 is at the lower end of the vertical end edge 950 of the lifting end section a of the lower cam 95. When the various parts are in this particular position, the grapple arms m unterclockwi di e tion cause th rolle 60 ion the leading for .upp am ioliower arm ,to 1:; trave al n the r ma n e o th .in in d .cam edge ,9.6c .and to travel .the full .length. of the c.urved or arcuate edge 96b .until .this roller finallywengages the .bottom holding. .edge .9,6d,.of

th npper cam 96- .fIhis travel .of the upper-cam ,iollower,;roller '60 along the lower .e'd g e. portions.. .9c and .8611 brings about further counterclockwise irritation ;,of'.the associatedgear segment 51130 return the meshing rack .Bl ,to .its -lowesk osition in -.wlf ich the grapple. arn1s.,.8ji.arev caused ,to assume their angular, .broken.. line.position. n will be. .noted ,that the doubleearmedcam,follower 5,8 nowhas ..been returned, to the positionjllustratcdiinjligs. 1,0 and 11 andvin the solidrline, showiI1g -,of,.Fig. 3.112,. {I'he holding" bottom edge ,Std. ofthe upper cam retains therack ,6! in this .lowest position ,until ,the trailing cam ,followerroller, which now dis the. upper. roller reaches ,theend of the upper cam 56.

'Ifihesnap flask moldponveyor cooperating-with .,the automatic jacket .and ,weight, shifter mechanismthat has justbeen. described in, detail best can be understood by specifically referring to at suitably spaced intervals, for .travel therealong. ,Each one of these. trucks is ,provided. with .aitray [22 that is pivoted jfor vertical swinging movement-to dumpa mold and its casting .off

' of thegtray at the shakeout station E, illustrated 'in'Fig. 14, when its prOjectingarm-IOS engages asuitable dumping, cam, not shown. The detail jieatures of construction of the snap flask mold conveyor are more completely illustrated. and described in the above referredto Beauforfid E.

,fi vin, r, ap i at on, Se a .No. ,9'l8, an

V .jiask mold, conveyor trucirsaround thefloase por- .il Qn. of said turntable frame.

,The'inside track rail 99, however, .is inter- 'jjrupted or, cut off adjacent the periphery of the base sprocketof. the turntable frame sothat its en'ds will clear theteeth that are, formed. r ng ;.,spr oc1:et sectors 3!. ,To supportthe inside.truck .wheelswhile traveling over theopp site sides. of the turntable sprocket, arcuaterailstrips .LM are provided. .These stationary rail .strips are suitably joined at ,theirouterends to the/cut- .p end of t e. inne t ck rail; 9 and a imon- :portexlby t an ula assemb of upstandin cr b '3 h w r re i u de i edwa Q ei g gformed. on the sectors 3|,of the tu ntable frame isprpcket- These rai strip 1 l l-ar .be 1.11114 .t ated i F g .2, a

,Eigsjfi ,andfil illustrate h e drive chainpithe .p p ey la einep Ovi ed withie id imlls .110 whic .aremounted-fo o ation on the verti pain, that .ne tn adiac nb ti .frhese sp derpll ilq mes. W .1 ,eethp tb .has zsprcclset 52 ,will.b,e, .appreciated, therefore, thatthe. snap flask ,mold conveyor chain, which is driven by. anysuitable form. of drive mechanism not show .is v employed ,forrotating the K turntable .frame and its v 5 grapple unit ,in proper synchronism .with the travel of thesnap ,flask mold conveyortrays.

ill-his synchronized operation of the automatic .j acl et and weightshifter mechanism .relative .to

.the travel, of. the. conveyor trays isvery important toassureproper engagement of the grapple arms 86 and 88 with the jackets and their weights :to ,enable the latter to. beremoved ,frompoured molds and properly applied to .unpoured ,molds l-without. damaging. the molds.

;It,,. also, is very important that the mold con- .veyer trucks, with their trays, be arranged .exactly diametrically. opposite each other when they ,are;positioned,on opposite sides of the turntable ,irarne. f...the automatic .iacket and weight shift- .enmechanism. This featureis best illustrated in the. diagrammatic showing of .Fig. 14 .in which .the. tray s ofthe conveyor are arbitrarilynumbored from to Hi, ,inclusive, and the locations oitl e grapplennits of the turntable frame. are similarly numbered. It will be seen thatthe conveyor trays bearing numbers l and '6 should be ,-diametrically. oppositeeach other when they are at their median positions while bending-around the opposite sides of the turntable frame. sprocket. ,Ihis same type of diametrical. registrationshould occur for-trays .2 and .l, -3 and 8,4 and 9, .and

lland i9 duringthetravelof the conveyor .and

,the. rotation of the turntable.

.To maintain this type of exact vdiametrical registration of the conveyortrays .onopposi-te ides of the-turntable frame, an adjustment is ,provided for the left-hand turn .or bend of the conveyor, .as seen in Figd i. In other words, by

;.anchoring the turntableframe .so that itwill not .rotate, andbyproperly positioning and holding conveyor tray (5 at the exactznedian position illustrated in. Fig. 14,. adjustment of the left-hand bendor turn of the conveyor path in the proper direction will causeconveyortray l to be prop- ,erly;positioned at the opposite median position,

onexactly diametrically opposite tray '6. Any

, orgiinarytensioning of the conveyor chain, to

take care oiwear, :or the like-is accomplishedby {the adjustment; indicated at. the right-hand end of-the-conve gr path shown in Fig. 14.

' g l t will be-remembered from thedetaildescriptioni of the grapple unit illustrated in Figsrfitqe, lusive, that the non-pivoting, inside grapple .881s adjustable radially of the turntable me toaccommodatejackets and weights of erent sizes while-the pivoted grapple arms 85 are not adjustable for jacket size. It will be apg preciated, therefore, that molds of difierent sizes st beunitorinly positioned on: the ,conveyor 50 tr ays so that their outer sides, regardless of the ;difference-in sizes of the molds, will bear the l sa ne --r elations h ip to the outer, pivoted; grapple arm sip tcrm p sit pinsp h m lfl p wer lco v r iray a om l h d 1W pr vid n :lih eQ I Y Q ier an h -m 1. b ttomb ard .witl 1-, interengagingelements or structural formati s. nots cwnfies and i ii$. l S ver i h;ei e 1t sized molds which are all. uniformly- -positioned on the conveyor trays so that theirouter ss de a r iase ar n; neitudinala aeei n While can.iii vei a i a a re lil p weights .aHan inanaap ana r sassociated we-1a i tomatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism. Figs. 2, 3 and a disclose each mold jacket I06 as having a relatively long gripping lug 106a fastened to its outer, longitudinal side which is intended to cooperate with the two grapple arms 85 of a grapple unit. The opposite longitudinal side of each jacket is provided with a gripping lug Gb which is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6 as being formed with a bottom recess I060 for accommodating the single, inner grapple arm 88 of a grapple unit.

Figs. 5 and 6 best illustrate the fact that each jacket I06 is provided with longitudinally outwardly projecting ears Hi9 at its opposite ends which are provided with upstanding pins H0. These pins are adapted to enter the conical recesses H! formed in the opposite ends of the weights ill! for the purpose of properly positioning the weights relative to the jackets when the weights are lifted ofi of pouredand partially cooled molds by the elevating of the jackets. These pins and recesses also assure proper positioning of the weights on the tops of unpoured molds when the associated jackets are applied thereto.

The mode of operation of the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism embodying this invention now will be described.

It was pointed out above that the grapple units of the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism can be adjusted or set to handle different sized jackets and their weights for use with a corresponding number of different sized molds. It is possible to adjust or set the illustrated number of grapple units so they will handle a maximum of ten different sizes of jackets and their weights. It will be appreciated that the maximum number of different sizes of jackets and weights that can be handled at any one time is limited by the number of grapple units that are mounted on the turntable frame. Of course, any desired smaller number of different sizes of jackets and weights can be handled at any one time by reducing the number of grapple units carried by the turntable frame or by retaining the illustrated number of grapple units and adjusting or setting certain units to handle the same size of jacket and its weight.

It will be appreciated that the inner grapple arms 88 for the several grapple units will travel circular paths of different diameters, depending upon the sizes of jackets and weights they are adjusted or set to accommodate. The outer grapple arms 85, however, will all follow the same irregular path or pattern, regardless of the diilerences in the sizes of jackets and weights being handled.

Figs. 1 and 15 best illustrate the irregular path 6r pattern followed by all of the outer grapple arms 86. This path of travel is represented by solid line G in Fig. 15. Starting with the point P on line G of Fig. 15, which point is further illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be understood that a jacket and its weight have been applied to an un-- poured mold and the end sections 95d and 96a, of the lower and upper cams 95 and 96, respectively, have actuated the rack 61 of the grapple unit, illustrated as occupying position P to bring about this desired application of the jacket and weight.

The outer grapple arms 86 will remain in their extended, or angular broken line position of Fig. 6, while traveling from the point P to the point P on line G, see Fig. 15. This point P also, is further illustrated on Fig. 1.

From point 1 to point P on line G of Fig. 15, the lifting end section 950 of the lower cam rail will actuate the cam follower and its associated gear segment to lift or elevate the meshing rack 6! to its uppermost position for causing the two outer grapple arms 86 to move downwardly into their solid line position of Fig. 6 and to then be elevated, along with the grapple arm 88, to their upper, broken line positions of Fig. 6.

It will be appreciated, by inspecting Fig. 1, that a poured mold, with its casting hardened sufliciently to remove the internal pressure from the mold, has been presented to the grapple unit, as it arrives at the position indicated by point P in Fig. 15, by the snap flask mold conveyor A. This poured mold advances in synchronism with the grapple unit to which it was presented until the grapple unit reaches the point P During this travel, the grapple unit has gripped or seized the jacket positioned on the poured mold and has lifted that jacket and its associated weight up oil of the mold.

While traveling from point P to point P the grapple unit retains the seized and elevated jacket and weight at their uppermost limit of movement. The holding top edge 95g of the lower cam 95 cooperates with the cam follower 58, associated with the grapple unit in question, for retaining the jacket and weight in their extreme elevated position.

While traveling from point P to point P each grapple unit is actuated to lower its jacket and associated weight onto an unpoured mold that is presented to the grapple unit by the snap flask mold conveyor A. The lowering end section 95d of the lower cam 95 and the final lowering and reversing end section 98a of the upper cam 96 cooperate with the cam follower 58 and its actuated gear segment 51 to bring about this lowering and releasing operation of the grapple unit.

7 It will be appreciated that if an unpoured mold is not placed on a tray of, the conveyor by the time the tray has passed through the molding station D, the jacket and weight for that particular conveyor tray will be deposited on the tray and will be carried through the pouring station and the first part of the cooling zone by the conveyor. It willbe appreciated, therefore, that the conveyor trays are employed to store the jackets and weights that are not required for a given cycle of travel of the conveyor through the pouring sta- It will be seen, from the detail description applied to the disclosure of Fig. 14, that the snap flask mold conveyor A must be provided with mold carrying trays that are equal in number to any desired multiple of the ten grapple units as sembled around the turntable frame of the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism. It can be considered, therefore, that any desired number of groups of conveyor trays are provided and that each group consists of ten trays.

To make certain that the molders placethe proper sized molds on the proper conveyortrays so that the proper sized jackets and weights will be appliedto the molds by the automatic jacket and weight shifter mechanism, it is necessary to apply some form of designation to each one of the ten diilerent conveyor trays to distinguish the trays from each other. The application of distinguishing colors to the ten different conveyor trays of each group has been found to be the simplest method. Therefore the ten trays of each group will bear an equal number of different designating colors while the trays bearing the same taken as the preferred example oithe .sa-me a'nd that various changes :in the: shape,.size,. and. arrzrangement of ,parts .may .be resorted .to. without ndeparting from :the :spirit of the invention orv the escope-jof the subjoined claims.

g Having thuszdescr-ibed the; invention,.-..we claims .1: Mechanism for, shifting jackets. and: their ;;ass.ociated weights frompoured to .unpouredsnolds .-..presented-.to zdifierent portions of .themechanism r by. aisnap. flask moldconveyor, comprising a turn- 1 table. framemounted for rotation. about. vertical axis, a plurality of vertically arranged vt. grap.ple..units spaced -.around and supported on :Said .frame;..each.:-grapple unit comprising op- .oposed. depending. grapple arms adapted to be 211'Il0VBd. relative .to each other radially of saida30 Eframe into and out of jacket and weightgripping :zposition.v and to .bemoved in unison verticallyof .asaidframe to raise and: lower the gripped jacket ..and.weight,-. avertically movable sup-portfor the @grapple arms carried by the turntable frame, and

:sgrapple arms relative to each other; and sta- 40 --'tionary meansconcentric With-adjacent to the path of travel 'ofand continuouslyengagedby all of.the mechanicahmeansof the grapple units and :operating as a result of rot2ition-of the turntable iframe for directly imparting to the mechanical means of each grapple unit the-motivating force required to move its grapple arms both vertically -and:relative to eachother.

. 2. =Mechanismfor-shifting jackets and--their :sassociatedweights from poured -to -unpoured .molds presented to different portions of-the emechanism by a snap flask mold conveyor; com- --prising a turntable frame mounted for rotation "about a vertical-axis, a-pluralityof grapple units spacedaround and supported on said-frame; each.

-' grapp1e unitcomprising opposed :QTQJJPIB arms adapted to be moved relative to each-other into and outof jacket and weightgripping" position and-to bemoved in unison to raise and'lovver; the gripped jacket and- Weight, a vertically movable support for the grapple-arms carried by the turntable frame, and mechanical means carried by theturntableframe and including a gear and rack for converting rotary motion into reciproaoating .motion operatively connected with the -grapple arm support and the grapple arms for moving the support and arms vertically-and for moving .the grapple arms relative to each other; .;and stationary cam means surroundin'gthe-turntable frameso as to be concentric with.and-ad-.

.Jaeentv to .the. path.of. travel of..the mechanical :means .o'fthe grapple units and operating asthe Jesult .of, r.o ta,tion of the. turntable. frame .for ac- .ztuating the mechanical means of... each grapple 4turntable I.

3.: Mechanism. 'ioreshi-fting: a jackets? .andcth l .associated,w.eights irom. p91 'red .to unnouredmelds ipresentedto-diiferent pQrtionsbi-th .e. hamfim bye snap.flaskmoldeconvey ripcomprisin urn- 5 .table: frame:mounte for rotationlabou i. a. er-

:tical axisa plurality-oi?v grappl 11 its zspaced l l nd and support onsaid frame: ea herar .:;p1e.unit c mp ising ppo d grapple rms adapte .Ltobemoved .relatiye teeachipother into;and:outiof 110 jacket; and..:Weight;.;shifting 11305113101 Q Dd-Ljlfkfb moved; in unison taraise. and :lower the. grippe Jacket andmeight, .a. verticallrzmorahle suppor .aior .-the grapple.-.arms. ,carried; by ithesturntahl --.fram e..;-.and;.:rnechahica1 1means;.1carried .ad y tll rse and; opera iy ly.ras ociatedawith ethe grapplesarm support 01. m0.v.i,ng;t easupport :.=verti ca1 y relative .o. the rirame -an or.-imovine .zth rapple arms relative-50o .:;each-.;Qther; aid "mechanicalmeans including a. ear, arackmeeh- 0 1 .--With..the sear, m ans -;f.or operatively; conanfi t tthe raoktothe .grappleuarm supportelld -t ne of a dgr pple rm i nda doubleearmed .IQVBIZ'IQI rotating .the gear; an station ry; am a means surrounding. the turntable frame; s .-.-as t e.m.oun ed concentrical y: of zthe: pathnof t avel ofth er ppl .r, n ,..said; cam means. omzzpri inatwo .vi r lly spaced camsseparat lyien- .ce a le bythe different arms. or the-doublemedleyers. dur n ach revolu ion-of.theiturn- -tab1e ='frame for. actuatin v the. -me.c.hanica-1-.- means ..of allpf the grapple units.

.4.; Mechanism for-shittingrjaokets ,.and..;the.ir .a.s.sociated wei hts from PQQIQditO unpouredmolds pnesented..,to different portions;of...the.mechanism 4w a snap flaskmoldconveyor. oomprisinea turntable fram mounted for. rotation.;ahout...aeverral ax s and havin a p uralitroficircumferenrtia ly spaced .m0l1nting..af1T meS,; az rapnle. n

Dp '1 l .on eachoi saidmounting:iram speach rappl .unit -.c mpr. sing. pp sed .sr pp ;;arm ead p ed to: be move :re1a ive.to:each otherzinto ha .0 .Of J cke and Weight; gripping. position and to bemoved. in unison to raiseandlower the :igri ll Ja ke and Wei ht; a, ;cr0ss..head; csupp rt -qn the mountin frame-i0]: nerticarmove- "5 men sm ans t r mountingzthe.relatirelxmorable rap l a mso rzthe ro s-head, ayokesupnorted on. the, mquntine ame.-ior,verticalmovemen sa l -moti n on e t on;-; etween th ..:yok and sih cro rl mean operafivflvcome. in the ok .to e ta n .o the. .era p arms :to efiect a-move ent-pisa d arms lative to-th cros head when the yoke. and Q TOss-head -are,;m0ve

-tive to each oth r thrQL gh the range of'sai 1 .19 n eetio and Inechan caLmean for 5 .m rinev t yo t ally. ahe eateradistanc 21 2141}. t ec o s-h ci-is .p rm tt dmmove wh r .t ewke. ahdr oss-head will move. together hi a p rfionnithe dis anceohm vement Qfliih yoke am ,will; move relat ve to. ea h other-sta erfimainde o sa d. .distans ,:saidamechanical means: pomprising. a;:g.ear,., having ran-.operating arm, rotatably supported on ithezmountingeframe ..and aiack, meshinggwith the; geanandponn'ected 300 the yoke; and stationary ;.means concentric With;.the. path of .trave1:ofthe grapple units: and ,iopera-ting asa result of: rotationof. .the turntable frame relative thereto for effecting actuationef the. gear operatingrarmzofeach grappleuriit.

5.. Mechanism for .shifting-ejackets =and =their .-..associated weights from poured to-unpoured ihol-ds .=;present.ed .to. difierentportions of the-mechanism :;=by -...a.e snap ..flask mold conveyor, =cOmpriSi-ng =a etunntablaframe ,mounted for \rotation- -about a .nvfe'ntieal axis and having a plurality ot-radially projecting mounting frames spaced circumferentially therearound, agrapple unit supported on each of said mounting frames; each grapple unit comprising opposed grapple arms adapted to be moved relative to each other into and out of jacket and weight gripping position and to be moved in unison to raise and lower the gripped jacket and Weight, a cross-head supported on the mounting frame for vertical movements, means for separately mounting the relatively movable grapple arms on the cross-head, a yoke supported on the mounting frame for vertical movements, a lost-motion connection between the yoke and the cross-head, means operatively connecting the yoke to certain of the grapple arms to effect movement'of said arms relative to the cross-head when the yoke and the cross-head are i moved relative to each other as a result of said lost-motion connection, and mechanical means for moving the yoke vertically a greater distance than the cross-head is permitted to move whereby the yoke and the cross-head will move together for a portion of the distance of movement of the yoke and will move relative to each other for the remainder of said distance, said mechanical means comprising a gear, a rack meshing with the gear and connected to the yoke, and a 'double-armed lever for rotating the gear; and stationary cam means mounted concentrically of the path of travel of the grapple units, said cam means comprising two vertically and circumferentially spaced substantially semi-circular cams separately engageable by the different arms of the double-armed levers during each revolution of the turntable frame for actuating the mechanical means of all of the grapple units. 6. In a jacket and weight shifter mechanism for a snap flask mold conveyor, the improvement which comprises a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and including vertical guide 1 means, a cross-head movable vertically on said guide means,-opposed grapple arms adapted to be moved relative to each other so that they can be operated to successively grip, hold and release a mold jacket and its associated weight during rotation of said frame, means for mounting one of the grapple arms of the cross-head for selective horizontal adjustments to permit the opposed grapple arms to handle jackets and weights of different sizes, means for pivotally mounting the remaining grapple arms on the cross-head, mechanical means carried by the rotatable frame for 'raising and lowering the cross-head with the grapple arms and for effecting the aforesaid relative movement of the grapple arms by actuating the pivotally mounted arms, said mechanical means including a vertically movable member having a lost-motion connection with the crosshead and a link and lever connection with the pivotally mounted grapple arms, a rotatable member drivingly connected to the vertically movable member for actuating the latter, and arm means for actuating the rotatable member, and stationary means cooperating with the said actuating arm means throughout its entire path of travel during rotation of said frame for producing the desired operation of the mechanical means.

7,. In foundry equipment of the type described, a jacket and weight shifter for a snap flask mold conveyor comprising a turntable frame supported for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of grapple units carried by the turntable frame in circumferentially spaced relation, each grapple unit comprising opposed grapple arms adapted to be moved relative to each other to seize and release a mold jacket and weight and to be moved in unison to lift and lower the seized mold jacket and weights and means for actuating the grapple units in proper timed relation to the rotation of the turntable frame to cause each grapple unit to seize and lift a mold jacket and weight at one location during each revolution of the turntable frame and to lower and release said mold jacket and weight at a different location during the same revolution of the turntable frame, said grapple unit actuating means comprising stationary cam means concentric with the axis of rotation of said turntable frame and common to all of the grapple units, a gear and rack operating mechanism for each grapple unit to apply reciprocating motion to the unit, a follower engageable with the cam means for rotating the gear, means for providing a lost-motion connection between the rack and the grapple arms through which the arms are raised and lowered, and means providing a direct-motion connection between the rack and the grapple arms to move the grapple arms relative to each other during the lost-motion movements between the rack and the grapple arms.

8. A jacket and weight shifter mechanism as specified in claim 6 further characterized by the stationary means comprising one cam positioned below the path of travel of and engageable by the arm means during a fractional portion of each revolution of the turntable frame, and a second cam positioned above the path of travel of and engageable by the arm means during a different fractional portion of each revolution of the turntable frame.

9. A jacket and weight shifter mechanism as specified in claim '7 further characterized by the stationary cam means comprising one substantially semi-circular cam positioned below the path of travel of and engageable by the follower during a fractional portion of each revolution of the turntable frame, and a substantially semi-circular cam positioned above the path of travel of and engageable by the follower during a different fractional portion of each revolution of the turntable frame.

10. Mechanism for shifting mold jackets and their associated weights, comprising a turntable frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertically extending mounting frames; a grapple unit carried by each one of said mounting frames, each grapple unit comprising a support vertically movable on its mounting frame, a pair of opposed grapple arms depending from the support for movements relative to each other into and out of jacket and weight gripping position when the support is in its lowest position and for movements in unison with each other to raise and lower the gripped jacket and weight when the support is moved vertically, a vertically movable rack supported by the mounting frame, means movably supported by the mounting frame for determining the lowest position of the grapple arm support and for providing a lost-motion connection through which the rack vertically moves the grapple arm support, means actuated by .the lost-motion movements between the rack and the grapple arm support for effecting said relative movements of the opposed grapple arms, a rotatable gear meshing with the rack, and Ya double-armed lever for rotating the gear in opposite directions to raise and lower the rack; a stationary cam surrounding a portion of the 

